Steering fork



July 24, 1951 R. L. PAWSAT STEERING FORK 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed NOV. 2, 1948 INVENTOR. RUBEN L. Haws/1T BY g eai 92% A ys.

R. L. PAWSAT STEERING FORK July 24, 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Nov.

IN V EN TOR.

V RUBEN L.

P WSA 7' "a strong,

and a fork constructed of sheet metal.

'structed of sheet metal Patented July 24, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,561,716 i STEERIN Ruben L. Pawsat, Meys'ville, K3. 4 Application November 2, l il ifip scr ial No. 5739 7 relates to a connection or joint between a steering post or stem and a steering fork.

An object of this invention is to provide a firm connection between a tubularpost and a steering "fork.

A further object of thisinvention is to provide reinforced connection between a post A further object of this invention is to provide a reinforcedlower end for the post or stem of a steering fork.

A further object of this invention is to provide means for attaching a mud guard or the like 'toa steering fork of this type without weakening the connection between the post and the fork.

A further object of this invention is to provide a connection between a tubular post and a fork in which an integral collar at the center of the fork is rolled or swaged about a groove in the post to hold the post and fork firmly together.

The above and other objects are attained by the means described herein and disclosed inthe accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a front elevational view of a steering fork and post joined by a connection constructed in accordance with an embodiment of this inven- .tion.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary front elevational view, partly broken away and in section, "of the connection between the post and the lower section of the fork shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 isia sectional view along a line 3-3 in Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary exploded view showing the lo'werend of the stem and the central portion of the lower section of the steering fork illustrated in Fig. 1 prior to assembly.

Fig. 5 is a front elevational view partly broken away and in section showing a steering assembly having a steering post and steering fork joined bya connectioncon'structed in accordance with asecond embodiment of this invention.

Throughout the drawings and specification, like numbers indicate like parts.

In the embodiment shown in Figs. l-4 inclusive, thisinvention provides a steering forkj having a tubular post or stem I0 and a U-shaped fork l2 having legs I3 and I4 (Fig. 1) and a central portion or crown I B. The fork may be conhaving a central panel l6 and opposite lengthwise edges rolled to form beads I! and I8 (Fig. 3). At lower ends of legs 13 and M are located axle supports!!! and 70,

steering assemblies l 5 Claims. (CL-'QQDQQIQ)" ofjthe fork may be of the type disclosed in the application of Ewald F. Pawsat and Ruben L. Pawsat, Serial No. 42,764, filed August 6, 1948, n w Patent No. 2,532,034, granted November 28, 1950.

rue post Ill is formed of hollow resilient pipe or tubingand is provided with threads 2| at its upper end by which the post may be connected to other portions of a bicycle. A short inner tube 22 having a closed lowerend 23 fits inside the lower portion of post 5 and serves to reinforce the lower end of the post where the post is joined to the sheet metal fork. In addition, lower end 23 of the inner tube may be tapped and threaded to receive a screw 24 at the center ofthesteering fork for supporting a mud guard oijthe like. As shown in Fig. 2, the lower end of the inner tube may be substantially in alignrn'entwith the lower end of the post.

A circumferential groove 25 is formed in the outer wall of post I0 close to but spaced above 'thelowcr end of the post. A lower tip 26 of the postprojects below groove 25.

Anopcniii'g 2 1 and an integral upstanding 'collar28 co-axi'al with opening 21 are formed at the center of panel l6 fork. In forming the collar 28, concave surfaces 29 (Fig. 4) "are formed in the beads I1 and I 8 only one of which is shown, which surfaces are on opposite sides of opening 21 and conform to the contour of the lower end of post Ill. The *collar 28 and surfaces 29 form a socket for receiving the lower end of post Ill.

' When assembling post In and fork l2, the lower endofthe post is inserted into the socket formed by collar 28 and surfaces 29, after which the collar 28 is-rolled or swaged into groove 25 to inakea -firm non-slipping joint or connection. The irietal 'of the post is resilient and, being irmwmwnyiem sufficiently to permit collar 28 tobe rolledintogroove 25. For further strengthen'ing th'ebrown of the fork between beads I! and [8 may be filled with weld metal 32 about "-tip26. The weld metal not only servesto hold the post firmly "in place but also strengthens the crown portion l6 of fork l2.

"Screw 24,a's pointed out above, is supported by lower end 23 of the inner tube. The screw may'ser'vetosupport a mud guard or the like, .andscrew 24 is supported at the center of the stceringfork without "any weakening of the con- Ii'ctidn betweehthe post and the fork.

or of the crown of the Inner tube 22 is held in place inside post In by a circumferential groove 33 in its outer surface into which the bead 34 in the outer tube is rolled or swaged. As will be understood, the grooves in the stem and in the inner tube may both be formed in a single operation which serves not only to form the grooves but also attaches the inner tube firmly in the stem.

The customary bearing ring 36 fits over and covers collar 28 and groove 25, as shown in Fig. 1.

In Fig. is shown a steering post and fork assembly in which a post 31 and a fork 38 are joined by a connection constructed in accordance,

with a second embodiment of this invention. Post 31 is formed of metal sufliciently thick that it does not require strengthening at a lower end 39 where it is joined to the fork. A circumferential groove 4| is formed in the outer surface of the post adjacent to but spaced from lower end 39.

Fork 38 may be of the same construction as the fork shown in Figs. 1-4 inclusive and includes an opening it and an integral collar 43 about opening 42. Concave surfaces 44, only one of which is shown, are formed in beads 46, the beads being formed along lengthwise edges of the'fork.

Lower end 39 of post 31 fits into the socket formed by opennig 43 and surfaces 44, and collar 43 fits into groove 4! and is swaged or rolled to fit tightly in the groove to-hold post 3! and fork ,38 firmly in assembled relation.

In the embodiment illustrated in Fig '5, the post is sufficiently thick that it does not require internal strengthening. Moreover, no weld metal is employed about the lower tip of the post, and the post is held in place by firm contact between the collar and the groove.

As will be understood, the embodiments ofv the invention shown admit of modification without departing either from the spirt or the'scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims. Having described my invention what I claim as novel and desire to secure by Letters Patent is: 1. In a steering assembly of the class described, the combination of a tubular post having circumferential groove adjacent to and spaced from its lower end, the lowermost tip of the post extending, below said circumferential groove, a onepiece bifurcated sheet metal fork, said fork having a central opening in its crown, and an integral collar surroundin said opennig and extending upwardly from said crown, opposite lengthwise edges of said fork being rolled to form lengthwise strengthening beads, the beads being spaced on opposite sides of saidopening, said collar fitting in the circumferential groove, the lower tip of the post fitting between the opposite beads of the fork, said collar being deformed into the groove in said post to hold the post and the fork firmly in assembled relation.

2. In a steering assembly of the class described, the combination of a tubular post having a circumferential groove adjacent to and spaced from the lower end of the post in'engagement with the beads.

3. In a steering assembly of the class described, the combination of a tubular post having a circumferential groove adjacent to and spaced its lower end, the lowermost tip of the post extendingbelow said circumferential groove, a onepiece bifurcated sheet metal fork, said fork having a central opening in its crown, an integral collar surrounding said opening and ex,- tending upwardly from said crown, opposite lengthwise edges of said fork bein rolled to form lengthwise strengthening beads,.the beads bein spaced on opposite sides of said opening, .said collar fitting in the circumferential groove,

the lower tip of the post ,fi-ttingbetweenthe opposite beads of the fork, said collar being de- Y from its lower end, the lowermost tip of the post extendin below said circumferential groove, a

one-piece bifurcated sheet metal fork, said fork having a central opening in its crown, an integral collar surrounding said opening and extending upwardly from said crown, opposite lengthwise edges of said fork being rolled'to form lengthwise strengthening beads, the beads being spaced on opposite sides of said opening, said collar fitting in the circumferential groove, the lower tip of the post fitting between the opposite beads ofthe fork, said collar being deformed into the groove in said post to hold said post and the fork firmly in assembled relation, and a short inner tube having a closed lower end fitting inside the lower end of the post with the closed end of the inner tube substantially flush with the lower end of the post, the inner tube having a circumferential groove in its outer surface, the post having an internal beadopposite the groove of the post which is deformed into the groove on the inner tube, whereby the inner tube and post are firmly held in assembled relationship.

4. In a steering assembly of the class described, the combination of a tubular post having a circumferential groove on its outer surface adjacent to and spaced from its lower end and an inner bead opposite the circumferential groove of the post,'a one-piece bifurcated sheet metal fork, said fork having a central opening in its crown and an integral collar surrounding said opening and extending upwardly from said crown, -opposite lengthwise edges of said fork being rolled to form lengthwise strengthening beads, .said beads being spaced on opposite sides of :said opening, the upper edge of said collar being deformed into the circumferential groove-of the vpost, the lower tip of the post fitting between oppositebeads of the fork, weld metal between the beads of the fork filling the crownofa the fork about the lower tip of the post, and a short innertube having a closed lower end substantially flush with the lower end of the post, the inner tube having a circumferential groove into which the :inner bead of the post is deformed to hold the inner tube and the post in assembled relation.

,5; In a steering assembly of. the class described, the combination of a tubular post havingv an external circumferential groove adjacent the lower end thereof and a one-piece bifurcated sheet metal fork, said fork having a central opening in its crown and a tubular flange integral. with the crown and extending upwardly therefrom'in coaxial relation to the opening in the crown, the opposite vertical edges of said fork being curved inwardly against the legsof the fork to stiffen and strengthen thesame, said curved'edges bein disposed on opposite sides of said opening, said flange extending-into the groove of the post to hold the post and the RUBEN L. PAWSAT.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Number Name Date Lewis Nov. 18, 1919 Snell Oct. 18, 1932 Anderson Aug, 6, 1935 Singer May 30, 1939 FOREIGN PATENTS Country Date Great Britain 1896 

